Frank v



(No Model.)

F. V. KNAUSS.

OVEN DOOR FOR COOKING STOVES OR RANGES.

ZPatented Sept. 20, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK V. KNAUSS, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PORTSMOUTH STOVE AND RANGE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

OVEN-DOOR FOR COOKING STOVES O R RANGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,117, dated September 20, 1892.

Application filed June 4, 1892. Serial No. 435,548. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK V. KNAUss, a citizen of the United States, residing atPortsmouth, in the county of Scioto and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oven-Doors for Cooking Stoves and Ranges, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification-and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a general perspective view, partly in section, of a cooking-range provided with my improved oven-door and its adjuncts; Fig. II, an enlarged side elevation of the same, showing the counterbalancing arm or lever and its connection with the oven-door; Fig. III, a detail view of my improved pedal attachment or tumbler and its relation to the door, and Fig. IV a case or box which is inserted between the oven and the outer shell of the range and covers the counterbalancinglever and the friction-spring which engages the same.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction and operation of oven-doors for ranges and cooking-stoves; and its object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efticient device designed to obviate the defects and facilitate the workingof stove-doors which are adapted to swing vertically on pivots or trunnions and have a pedal attachment or tumbler, whereby they may be operated by the foot instead of the hands.

The essential features of my device consist of a simple and practical appliance adapted to prevent the startling and hideous noise which ensues when the door is thrown open and falls upon its supports, means whereby the door is automatically retained in closed position without the aid of a latch or other appliance usually employed for the purpose, and an improved form of pedal or tumbler by which the door may be readily closed or opened at will by the foot of the operative.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates axcooking-range of the usual form, having an oven-door 2. (Represented in open position and suitably supported on a plane with the bottom of the oven 3.) The door swings vertically on pivots or trunnions 4, which are journaled in brackets 5. The extremity of one of the trunnions is squared and fitted in a corresponding aperture in the outer end of a swinging arm or lever 6, designed to counterbalance the door. It will be observed that the bracket is recessed for the counterbalancingarm, and it is thus prevented from becoming accidentally disen gaged from the trunnion. An adjustable friction-spring 7 is suitably attached to the side of the oven and is designed to engage thefree end of the counterbalancing-arm and control the movement of the door when thrown open.

It has been experimentally ascertained that ordinary hoop-iron doubled and bent in the form as shown in the drawings is peculiarly adapted for the construction of the frictionspring. It may be easily adjusted to produce the desired degree of friction and is not affected by the heat to which it is exposed. It is, however, understood that any suitable ma- 7o terial in any desirable form maybe employed for the purpose. The trunnion on the opposite side of the door carries a pedal or tumbler 8, which may be conveniently made in two sections and afterward united by screws or other suitable means. An aperture 9 re ceives the end of the trunnion, provided on its nether side with a spline 10, which engages a groove 11 in the lower part of the aperture 9. The trunnion is thus prevented from turning in the tumbler. In order to make the connection additionally secure, a key 12 may be driven into a keyway formed on the end of the trunnion. A sheet-metal case 13 is suitably attached between the oven 8 5 and the ash-pit of the range and protects the spring and swinging arm from the ash-pan or accumulations of ashes which might impede their free action.

The operation of the device will be readily o understood. The door is opened by applying the foot to the lower end of the tumbler and thrusting it backward. It is evidentthat when the door approaches the horizontal position it will overcome the counterbalance or swing- 9 5 ing arm; but in this device the spring, being properly adjusted, engages the arm and checks the movement of the door sufficiently to prevent a noisy rebound when it falls into position. In order to close the door, the foot is :00 applied to the upper end of the tumbler. It will also be observed that no latch or other appliance is required to secure the door when and control the falling movement of the door, closed, the swinging arm being then in such and a double-acting pedal or tumbler adapted position that it overbalances the door and to open or close the door, substantially as and renders any other fastening unnecessary. If for the purposes herein set forth. I 5 5 desired, the door may be provided with a suit- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I able knob, so that it may be operated by hand. have hereunto set my hand, this 28th day of What I claim as new is- May, 1892, in the presence of witnesses. i The combination, with a cooking range or FRANK V. KNAUSS. stove, of the herein-described oven-door pr0- \Vitnesses: 1o vided with a counterbalancing lever or arm, L. WV. BAKER,

a friction-spring adapted to engage the arm W. S. TODD.

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